Clidemia neblinae Wurdack
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1961. The botany of the Guayana Highland--part IV (2). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 10: 1-87.
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Family
Melastomataceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - C. tococoidiae (DC.) Gleas. et C. crenulatae Gleas. in aspectu vegetativo affinis sed inflorescentia bene evoluta et floribus 5-meris. Rami cum petiolis modice setosi, setis rigidis patentibus 2-3 mm longis et glandula caduca terminatis, et densissime setulosi setulis ca. 0.5 mm longis plusminusve deflexis, ad basim petiolorum vesiculiferi vesieulis reflexis ca. 1 cm longis dense setosis. Petioli (2-)8-13 cm longi; lamina membranacea (13-)20-35 X (6-) 13-27 cm ovata apice subabrupte per 1-2 cm acuminata basi leviter cordata ad margines crenato-denticulata denticulis ca. 3-4 per cm et 0.5-1 mm profundis, 7- vel debiliter 9-nervata nervis secundariis ca. 5-8 mm inter se distantibus tertiariis laxe reticulatis nervis omnibus supra subplanis subtus graciliter paulo elevatis, supra in superficie sparse strigulosa (pilis ca. 1/mm2) et in venis primariis modice reflexo-setulosa pilis omnibus caduco-glanduliferis et ca. 0.5-1 mm longis, subtus in venis primariis densiuscule setulosa in venulis sparse setulosi pilis non-glandulosis plerumque ca. 0.3-0.7 mm longis. Inflorescentia paniculata densissime reflexo-setulosa (setulis ca. 0.3-0.5 mm longis) ca. 10 cm longa, ramis principalibus lateralibus duobus oppositis ad 7 cm longis subbasilaribus. Fructus 5-meri sessiles teretes ca. 5 mm diam. densiuscule puberuli setulis ca. 0.2-0.3 mm longis ad apicem breviter 5-lobati dentibus interioribus exterioribus aequantibus lobis singulis seto unico 1-1.5 mm longo glandulifero terminatis; ovarium 3-loculare apice glabrum; semina numerosa laevia ovoidea ca. 0.5 X 0.3 mm.
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Discussion
Fig. 33, A, B.
The vegetative similarity in cauline formicaria and type of pubescence to the two postulated relatives is remarkable; both these species, however, with their subsessile-leafed relatives centering around G. elata Pittier, have 4-merous flowers. The inflorescence of G. neblinae appears terminal, but such other species of Clidemia as C. coriacea Naud. also have terminal or pseudo-terminal inflorescences. The present generic disposition of C. neblinae is based primarily on the notable cauline formicarial specialization known to me in the family only in this Clidemia species-group.